Home Guard - History Learning Site Home Guard Citation: C N Trueman "Home Guard" historylearningsite.co.uk. The History Learning Site, 20 Apr 2015. 16 Aug 2016. The Home Guard was originally known as the Local Defence Volunteers (LDV). This was considered too much of a title and it became the Home Guard, though the nickname ‘Look, Duck and Vanish’ did stick – rather unfairly as the work done by the HOme Guard was very important. The Home Guard had a number of purposes. They made those in it feel as if they were doing something constructive in the war effort. The Home Guard was not simply for older men past conscription age. Those young enough to be conscripted but who did not pass the military’s medicals could join the Home Guard. Men between 17 and 65 years could join it. The government had expected 150,000 volunteers in total but within 24 hours of Anthony Eden’s radio broadcast, 250,000 had joined. By August 1940, over 1.5 million men had volunteered.

On May 14th, the Minister of War, Anthony Eden, made the following national announcement: “We want large numbers of men in Great Britain who are British subjects between the ages of 17 and 65 to come forward now and offer their service in order to make assurance doubly sure. The name of the new force which is now to be raised will be the Local Defence Volunteers.” The authorities were completely unprepared for the number that did respond. Within 6 weeks of the announcement by Eden, ten times more men had volunteered than the War Office had expected in total. To begin there were simply not enough official forms for men to apply – local police simply resorted to making a list of names. With such a response, the War Office was faced with a number of problems. The primary ones were supplying sufficient uniforms for so many volunteers and the necessary weapons if Britain was to be properly defended. All available weaponry had, understandably, been handed to the regular military and a vast amount was to be lost by the BEF at Dunkirk. The Home Guard was ordered to find whatever it could to defend itself and occasionally men in the Home Guard were referred to as the ‘Broomstick Army’, the result of being seen drilling with broomsticks.

Even six weeks after Eden’s broadcast, there was only one rifle to every six men in the Home Guard. When rifles did arrive, they were American P17’s and P14’s from World War One. They trained in the evening in such things as weapons handling, unarmed combat and basic sabotage. However, complaints were made that too much time was spent on drill as opposed to learning about proper soldiering. Despite Churchill’s demand that the Home Guard be issued with proper weapons, the War Office issued 250,000 pikes – bayonets welded onto metal poles. Local Home Guard commanders initially received little guidance from the War Office as to training and it was left to them to develop their own tactics that were relevant to their own locality. However, with little professional support, a man in the Home Guard was four times as likely to die in an accident during training than a regular soldier. However, training in the Home Guard was transformed in July 1940 by a veteran of World War One and the Spanish Civil War, Tom Wintringham. During the Spanish Civil War, Wintringham had developed an expertise in guerilla fighting.

Using various contacts, Wintringham set up the first guerilla warfare school at Osterley Park to the west of London. Hundreds of Home Guard volunteers turned up. At Osterley Park, these volunteers were taught how to fight an enemy. Most of Wintringham’s teachers were veterans of the Spanish Civil War including Basques who specialised in explosives. Training in guerilla warfare for the Home Guard volunteers started within 20 minutes of arrival and in the first three months Wintringham and his men had trained 5,000 volunteers. They were simply taught what they needed to know. The fame of Osterley Park was such that journalists from America did reports on it. However, Wintringham never received the full support of the government as he had fought for the Communists in the Spanish Civil War and some in government believed that he was covertly training an army that would one day be used against the government. Though an absurdity, such a belief needs to be taken in the context of the time. In 1940, Stalin’s Russia was not an ally and had, with Hitler’s Germany, attacked Poland in September 1939.

Suspicion about communists did not just start in 1939 – Lenin’s Bolsheviks had executed the Russian royal family in 1918 and pulled Russia out of World War One, thus freeing up thousands of German soldiers for the Western Front. After just three months in charge, Osterley Park was taken over by the military and Wintringham and his men were pushed aside. However, the War Office recognised the value of such training camps and set up three more of them across the UK, based on how Osterley Park was run. The Home Guard acted as sentries during the day and night and became extra ‘ears and eyes’ for the full-time military. They checked that people were carrying their Identity Cards. Those caught without one could be arrested and handed over to the police. Local Home Guard units would know who lived locally and any strangers to an area would be subject to a check, especially as there was a genuine fear of Fifth Columnists. The Home Guard was also responsible for taking down road signs and any local clues that might help the enemy should they invade. The south coast at Newhaven would have been patrolled by the Home Guard and pill boxes manned by them.

The “Home Guard Handbook” published in 1940 stated that the main duties of the Home Guard were : “Guarding important points Observation and reporting – prompt and precise. Immediate attack against small, lightly armed parties of the enemy. The defence of roads, villages, factories and vital points in towns to block enemy movement.” Every member of the Home Guard was expected to know : “The whole of the ground in his own district. The personnel of his own detachment. The headquarters of his detachment and where he is to report for duty in the event of an alarm. What the alarm signal is. The form of reports concerning enemy landings or approaches, what the reports should contain, and to whom they should be sent.” The Home Guard was also called on to man anti-aircraft guns and rocket launches around London – especially at bases at Shooter’s Hill and Pett’s Wood, both to the south-east of London. At Pett’s Wood, there were six heavy anti-aircraft guns that required eleven men to a gun. Therefore, the six guns required sixty-six Home Guard men to fully operate them. This freed up men from the regular army for other duties.

By the spring of 1944, there were 100,000 men from the Home Guard working on anti-aircraft batteries. Their main task in that year was against the V1. To start with a ring of 1,500 anti-aircraft guns manned by the Home Guard was set up on the North Downs. Fighter planes flew just off the coast However, this did not work as planes tracking the V1’s were open to the gunfire from the anti-aircraft batteries. The plan was switched with the guns being moved to the coast – along with their Home Guard operators – and the planes flying inland. A line of anti-aircraft guns was set up from Dover to Littlehampton. The success rate was such that between 60% to 70% of all V1’s never made it to London as, one way or another, they were brought down. Though seen as not real soldiers’, the Home Guard did valuable work. By acting as sentries, patrolling the countryside etc. they relieved the regular army to do other work. A special unit, the Auxiliary Unit, was created to fight behind enemy lines should an invasion occur.

They would have lived and fought out of secret bases in the countryside. Their job would have been to sabotage anything that might have been of use to the Nazi invaders. Their knowledge of the local terrain would have been a valuable asset in any fight against the Nazis. Winston Churchill said of the force: “Such a force is of the highest value and importance. A country where every street and every village bristles with resolute, armed men is a country against which the tactics that destroyed the Dutch will not succeed…………a country so defended would not be liable to be overthrown.” Home Guard FAQ Home Guard FAQ 3. When was the HG formed? On the night of 14th May 1940, Anthony Eden made his first speech as Secretary of State for War. Part of this speech was asking for volunteers for the LDV: 'We want large numbers of such men in Great Britain who are British subjects, between the ages of seventeen and sixty-five, to come forward now and offer their services in order to make assurance [that an invasion would be repelled] doubly sure. The name of the new force which is now to be raised will be the Local Defence Volunteers. This name describes its duties in three words.

You will not be paid, but you will receive uniforms and will be armed. In order to volunteer, what you have to do is give your name at your local police station, and then, when we want you, we will let you know...' 4. When was the HG disbanded? The Home Guard stand-down was on 3rd December 1944. From this date, the Home Guard became an inactive reserve unit. The Home Guard was disbanded on 31st December 1945. From this date, the Home Guard ceased to exist. 5. How many men were in the HG? The Government expected 150,000 men to volunteer when Anthony Eden made his broadcast on 14th May 1940. Within 24 hours of the broadcast, 250,000 men had put down their names and by the end of May 1940 the number was between 300,000 and 400,000. By the end of June, 1940 the number of volunteers was just under 1½ million.

The number peaked at 1.8 million in March 1943 and never fell below 1 million until the Home Guard was disbanded. Members of the Home Guard were either in reserved occupations, too young or too old to serve in the normal army. A reserved occupation is a job which was deemed as vital to the war effort. 7. What was the age limit in the HG? The age limit for members of the Home Guard was officially 17 to 65. This was not strictly adhered to, one example being Volunteer P.D. Willeringhaus who was awarded a 'Mention in Despatches' for his brave conduct. He was only 16 at the time. 8. Were all members volunteers? Originally all members of the Home Guard were volunteers. In 1942 the National Service Act made it possible for compulsory enrolment to be applied in areas where units were below strength.

As the age limit for conscription into the normal army was 18 and the Home Guard was 17, in the latter half of the war conscription of 17 year olds into the Home Guard was seen as an ideal method of acclimatising youngsters into a military environment before they were called up for service in the regular army. 9. Were all members amateurs? A large number of members of the Home Guard were amateurs, having no previous military experience. There was also a large wealth of experience within the Home Guard - in 1940 and 1941, approximately 40% of volunteers were World War One veterans. 12. I had a relative in the HG, is he entitled to any medals? The Home Guard was part of the British Army and, as such, any member of the Home Guard has the same medal entitlement as a member of the regular army. Unfortunately as the Home Guard did not serve overseas the only medal which they were definitely entitled to was the Defence Medal.

The qualifying period for the Defence Medal for members of the Home Guard, was three years (1080 days) service between 14th May, 1940 and 31st December, 1944 (when the Home Guard was stood down). A special award of the Medal was made to personnel whose service was terminated before three years by death or wounds due to enemy action whilst on duty, or who were awarded an honour, decoration or King's Commendation. The Medal was not issued automatically and award depended upon a claim by an individual. The Service Personnel & Veterans Agency website has a page with contact addresses for service histories and medal applications. 13. I had a relative in the HG, can I get a copy of his service history? Service records can be obtained from the Service Personnel & Veterans Agency by former members of the Home Guard or their next of kin. As the Home Guard formed part of the British Army, service records are held along with all other Army records. When making an enquiry, you need to state "Home Guard" where it asks for Regiment or Corps.

Army service records from WWII are not yet publicly available so this website has no access to them and any enquiries regarding service records of relatives need to made directly with the Service Personnel & Veterans Agency. 15. Did the HG have the same organisational structure as the normal army? Although the Home Guard had sections, platoons, companies and battalions, they were organised differently from the regular army. In the regular army sections, platoons, companies and battalions are formed on a number basis so that when you compare the size of companies in different infantry battalions, normally they would be about the same. Home Guard battalions were formed on an area basis, normally covering towns or districts. This meant that a battalion in one town could be four or five times larger than the battalion in a neighbouring town. Within each battalion, again platoons and even companies were formed on an area basis, covering specific parts of towns or districts. 16. Did the HG have the same rank structure as the normal army? When the Home Guard was first formed it had its' own rank structure.

As a unit of 'volunteers' it was felt that there should be a system of 'appointed' ranks and 'officers' did not hold Kings' Commissions. The ranks were as follows: Home Guard Appointment Volunteer Private It was not until November 1940 that it was decided to bring the Home Guard structure in line with the regular army. From February 1941 officers and men were known by orthadox army ranks with the exception of privates. It was not until the spring of 1942 that the rank of 'volunteer' was dropped in favour of 'private' (at the time when conscription was introduced). 17. Were all HG units infantry units? From the very start there were units other than infantry units. Initially these were formed in an unregulated manner and mainly consisted of mounted units and waterborne units, one of the most famous of these being the Upper Thames Patrol. There were also 'factory units', formed by the factory workers to protect the premises during an emergency. A lot of these units were amalgamated or incorporated into local battalions. There were some exceptions, normally Post Office or railways units who amalgamated into Post Office or railways battalions.

By 1942, specialised units started to appear, these included: coast defence; anti-aircraft; motor transport and bomb disposal. Other than infantry units, anti-aircraft units were the most common Home Guard units. They manned 3.7" and 4.5" guns as well as rocket projectors and lighter weapons and by 1944 had freed up a large number of regular troops who were then available for the invasion of Europe. 18. Were there any women in the HG? Officially, there were never any women in the Home Guard. The Home Guard was formed to resist an enemy invasion and, in line with government and military policy, women were not allowed in 'front-line' or 'combat' units. It was also felt that there were already enough voluntary organisations that women could join, including the Womens' Voluntary Service and Civil Defence. Even though they were not allowed to do so, some units decided to allow women to do administrative or other 'non-combat' duties within their unit. Later it was felt that there was a need, in some situations, for women to assist members of the Home Guard. In 1942???

the Womens Home Guard Auxiliaries were formed and women were able to work, in an administrative capacity, with the Home Guard. The only 'uniform' that they were supplied with was a circular bakelite brooch, about 2" in diameter, with the initials 'HG' on it. Ulster (Northern Ireland) - part of the U.K. and ruled by Britain. Irish Republic (Southern Ireland) - independant country, remained neutral throughout the war. Special Constable - part-time volunteer police officer. In mainland Britain, the Home Guard were administered through their county Territorial Army Associations. Members of the Home Guard also attested (swore a military oath of allegiance to the Crown) and were, therefore, a legitimate part of the Armed Forces of the Crown. In Ulster there was no Territorial Army and so the Ulster Home Guard was administered through the Royal Ulster Constabulary and members were sworn in as Special Constables.

This may not seem to be too much of a problem but as Special Constables, the Ulster Home Guard were not technically part of the Armed Forces of the Crown, were not protected by the Geneva Convention and if they took up arms against an invading enemy could, legally, be shot as partisans or guerillas. It is also of interest to note that Platoon Sergeant W.B. Anderson of the Ulster Home Guard was awarded the British Empire Medal (Civil Division) whereas all other awards of the medal (and OBE's & MBE's) to members of the Home Guard were Military Division awards. This strange situation was not noticed until 1942 when members of the Ulster Home Guard were re-attested as members of the Armed Forces of the Crown. They continued to wear the Royal Ulster Constabulary cap badge. British Civilian Life in World War II: Civil Defence and Home Guard Women's Voluntary Service Home Guard The Home Guard was formed as a backup to the army, to defend the towns and villages of the United Kingdom should the Germans invade, but they were armed initially with only what could be scrounged up and private weapons.

They eventually were properly armed and usually consisted of men in reserved occupations, those unable to fight due to a medical condition, or those who were too old to fight. The Civil Defence forces outside London were disbanded in September 1944, although the stand-down order did not come until May 1945 and was not completed until 31st December 1944. The London Civil Defence Force was stood down on 2nd December 1944. The Home Guard was the army that never fought. Hastily organized in May 1940 as the Local Defence Volunteers, it was armed with a mixture of outdated rifles, old fowling pieces, shotguns and improvised weapons and by the end of June the Home Guard numbered some 1.5-million ill-equipped but enthusiastic men. Shortly a consignment of half a million US-made P17 Enfield and Canadian Ross rifles arrived from the USA. By November 1941, the Government introduced military ranks and discipline into the Home Guard, as it numbered 1.5 to 2 million men. It still consisted of volunteer, unpaid and part-time soldiers, formed into units to defend local communities, airfields and vital infrastructure and traffic routes.

Later in the war, the Home Guard helped to man AA sites and coastal artillery, as well as defend them, releasing regular troops for other duties. Strength of the Home Guard and Royal Observer Corps (Thousands) Civil Defence Services In World War One, about 1,400 civilians had died in just over 100 air raids on Britain by German Zeppelins and later, Gotha bombers. The interwar years saw the Committee for Imperial Defence set up a subcommittee whose function was to look at the organization for a war of civil defence, home defence, censorship and war emergency legislation. This group was called the Air Raid Precautions subcommittee. It met for the first time in May 1924. The subcommittee continued its work for the next nine year in secrecy. In March 1933, local authorities were chosen as the agencies to be responsible for local organization. A circular was sent around the local authorities and a new department of the Home Office, the ARP department, was formed in 1935 under the control of Wing Commander E. J. Hodsall.

When, in March 1935, Germany announced that she had re-established her air force, the ARP department immediately went to work and began to issue instructions to the local authorities, merchant shipping and fire precautions. In January 1937, the first official ARP broadcast was made and an appeal was made for volunteers. Local progress in the setting up of these services varied widely; in some areas large-scale exercises took place and in others ARP services had yet to be formed. For the first years of their existence, the ARP personnel had only a helmet and a silver ARP badge to denote their role and which service they belonged to. Often the helmets carried some denotation of rank, as did armbands where provided. An ARP inspector spent some time in Spain during the civil war, studying the effects of bombing by German and Italian aircraft and evaluating the defences employed. On 1st January 1938, the ARP act came into force, compelling all local authorities to set up ARP schemes. It required wardens, first aid, emergency ambulance, gas decontamination, rescue, repair and demolition services as well as first aid posts, gas cleansing stations and casualty clearing stations. The Auxiliary Fire Service was also set up.

The Act also provided for funding, 65-70% of the bill would be footed by central government grants, if the local authority submitted plans, which were approved. In March 1938, war seemed inevitable, as Germany demanded the return of the Sudetenland. ARP services were put on standby and trenches were dug in public parks. The ARP workers would, in the main, be part-time volunteers and were expected to work up to 48 hours a month. In February 1939, full time ARP personnel were paid ï¿½3 a week for men, and ï¿½2 a week for women. Skilled rescue workers earned more and part-time pay was introduced later in the year. When Germany invaded Poland on 1st September 1939, war was impossible to stop. Blackout restrictions came into force and the Auxiliary Fire Service was mobilized and local APR schemes were brought into operation. As the war continued, each new ARP development was followed by new weapons deployed by the Axis powers. The early air raid warning system sounded an alert in one of a hundred areas warning of approaching enemy aircraft in five minutes.

This meant that factories and areas not immediately threatened or buzzed by nuisance aircraft all shut down factories as the workers headed to the shelters. Nuisance raiders caused the ARP to develop an Industrial Warning System, where spotters were stationed on the roofs of factories and sounded the alert when enemy aircraft were seen approaching. This cut down enormously on the time spent in shelters by factory workers. In 1940 some local authorities began to issue a sort of uniform for their Civil Defence services and in February 1941, a heavy battledress uniform was issued, first to rescue services and later to the other services. During 1941, the phase ARP was phased out in favour of Civil Defence. The Civil Defence services began to be wound up in September 1944 and some blackouts began to be lifted. At the end of April 1945, the Civil Defence wound up on 2nd May 1945, holding a final parade on 10th June 1945, reviewed by King George VI. Air Raid Wardens ARP wardens were first introduced in January 17, their duty being to establish and advise on air raid precautions in their sector.

They would be at posts and report the particulars of air raid damage, assist the inhabitants and warn of unexploded devices and seal off effected areas. The ARP Warden Service was formed in March 1937. The wardens would perform many jobs and provide immediate help with bomb damage until the rescue services could arrive. They had to have a detailed knowledge of the local area, where any dangerous chemicals, petrol or oil were located, where useful rescue materials might be located and the positions of useful reporting points as well as the location of the local rest centres, first aid posts and hospitals. The first posts were in the warden's own front room or a shop, but later these were purpose built locations, with power, telephone and a shelter for the warden. They were also issued with gas masks, anti-gas suits and other rescue equipment. The early scheme had one warden per 500 people, but later it was replaced by a scheme of not more than 10 warden posts per square mile, so a warden should not have to move more than half a mile to a damaged area.

The sectors were each served by five wardens under a senior or Sector Warden, while several sectors were covered by a warden's post under the control of a Post Warden. The post areas were grouped under a Head Warden, sometimes known as an Area Warden, who would be in charge of an area containing six to eight thousand people. Large towns of more than 150,000 population would be divided into divisions of eight to ten Head Wardens, and all the Head, Post or Area Wardens had a deputy. The local Warden Service was controlled by the Chief Warden at the local authority's headquarters and would have a reserve of wardens as reinforcements. Wardens were trained in everything they might need. Rescue work, organization, elementary first aid and bomb protection as well as ARP procedures. They also had to oversee the public shelters but these were taken over by a Shelter Marshal, later renamed Shelter Wardens and under the control of the Warden Service. Fire Fire was not considered a high danger before the war. Only fire resulting form bomb damage being a major problem and the Auxiliary Fire Service was formed to combat this. Mass incendiary raids were not expected.

German heavy bombers could carry a thousand one kilo Electron incendiary bombs, and a single German bomber with a full load could start up to 150 fires over a three-mile area according to the Home Office. A single electron could be easily dealt with by sand, water or covering the small fire, but if left alone could develop into a major fire. As well as the civilian Fire Service, the Auxiliary Fire Service was formed in January 1938; the Fire Brigade Act of July 1938 gave local authorities 2 years to bring their brigades up to strength. Before the war broke out, recruitment was far below its target of 200,000 but when war broke out recruits flooded in. Auxiliary fire stations sprang up everywhere, dispersed all over cities and rural areas. Early in the war the fire engines patrolled at intervals to spot fires but the wardens and fire guards proved more effective and such patrols became unnecessary. As well as the AFS, there was the Women's Auxiliary Fire Service, whose presence released men from control centre and messenger duties. War had seen the peacetime bright-red fire engine disappear to be replaced by wartime grey and tin helmets were issued to the firemen.

As well as trailers and vehicles, many fire brigades had fire floats and boats, with many battling for hours on end along the Thames River to contain the fires on the docksides and streets of riverside London. The National Fire Service reached its peak at the end of 1942, numbering 350,000 in 39 fire forces, each of 4 divisions, with two columns (100 pumps) per division and a reserve of 20 pumps. A company had ten pumps and a section five. The NFS was controlled by the Home Office but each CD region had its own Fire Officer, who liased between the CD Regional Commissioner and the Fire Force commanders within the region. There were also mobile control units at large incidents. The Fire Watcher Service was formed in September 1940 in the Fire Watchers Order, which was to spot and report the fall of incendiaries and their ensuing fires. But all their efforts could not prevent the devastation of December 1940, and in August 1941 the watchers were reorganized into the Fire Guard. These would spot incendiary fires, battle them to the best of their ability and send for reinforcements from the NFS if required.

Gas The fear of the use of poison gas by German aircraft was one of the paramount concerns of the Second World War. Although Britain, France and Germany had all renewed the Geneva Gas Protocol (1925), in September 1939 there were still concerns that the enemy might have employed gas against military or civilian personnel, and ARP personnel were trained to handle gas attacks and on anti-gas measures and protection. Several arms of the ARP services were directly concerned with gas. The Decontamination Service was the first, to decontaminate roads, buildings and materials contaminated by liquid or jelly gases, which would evaporate over time and these would have been dealt with by using a neutralizing agent against the liquid or jelly. Decontamination of people was carried out as part of first aid, while later decontamination personnel were trained in rescue work as well. Depots were set up as six depots per 100,000 people, with two decontamination squadrons per depot, each squadron consisting of six men with their equipment. The Cleansing Service was to clean people who had been exposed, through showers by mobile units with special vans and lorries.

Clothing had to be boiled, if exposed, for varying lengths of time dependant on the material. Civilian clothing was the responsibility of the Ministry of Health. burning, smoke or other hazardous materials. Each gas presented its own problems and required special counters, and the Gas Identification Service, with 3 personnel per 100,000 population provided where possible, was to identify the gas used in an attack. Medical Services The expected nature of air raids in the Second World War, led to the First World War trench-warfare style of triage being adopted for home use. First Aid parties would attend the scene of the destruction, where they would deal with minor injuries on the spot, prioritizing more serious injuries and sending them back to First Aid Posts, each with a doctor and trained nurses to treat the more serious injuries. The most serious cases would be sent to a casualty clearing hospital. Along with the emergency ambulance service these made up the ARP Casualty Service. After 1938, the casualty services came under the control of the Ministry of Health. Each Warden's sector had an assigned doctor, who could be summoned to an incident if there were casualties. These were called ARP Medical Officer or Incident Doctors.

The Medical Services also controlled the Emergency Mortuaries to deal with the vast number of bodies expected as a result of air raids, a series of these being set up in each area in commandeered premises. The stretcher-bearers worked exclusively from hospitals and were made up of volunteers. Observer Corps Police In 1938, the duties of the police were envisaged as increasing so enormously when war broke out, that the numbers of police had to be trebled. The First Police Reserve of Police Pensioners, the Second Reserve of Special Constables, (part-time and unpaid) and the Third Reserve, which was a war reserve that was full time and signed up for war service only, were all needed to fill the Police Services manpower requirements. At first all police were regarded as a reserved occupation, but later increasing demands on personnel saw police were released up to the age of 30 and war reservists up to 33, leaving more work for the Special Constables. Another source of personnel was the Women's Auxiliary Police Corps, where WAPCS worked in administrative areas and as drivers. Their numbers were small, not reaching 10,000 at their height, some forces employing no women at all.

The build-up to war had seen police stations bomb-proofed, while reserve stations were set up and suitable buildings were converted and equipped to be used if the main station was bombed. Outside London the police were usually in charge of incidents. The police had the power to deal with blackout violations, but not the wardens, who referred them. The police also had to deal with incendiaries, gas, unexploded bombs, crashed aircraft, national registration, loose barrage balloons, enemy aliens and drunken servicemen. Their special departments had to monitor spies, fifth columnists, looting, sabotage and black marketeering. The police also had their own messengers, the Police Auxiliary Messenger Service. Rescue Services The Rescue Services was, in its first incarnation, to rescue survivors and repair or demolish damaged structures. Much of the training was based on earthquake rescue work. All members of rescue parties were taught to cut off supplies of gas, water and electricity to damaged buildings. Many members of the rescue service were trained in resuscitation, as gas masks were useless against domestic (coal) gas. To enable rescue workers to avoid domestic gas, the remote breathing apparatus was developed.

This was basically a service gas mask with a long hose connected to it, through which fresh air could be breathed. They were also trained in putting out small fires and tackling incendiaries. At first the standard rescue party was ten men in two classes; major incidents and smaller incidents as Class A and Class B respectively with each having different equipment. The light teams numbered four or five to every heavy team per 100,000 populations but in cities, heavy parties were in every area. The Borough Engineer or Surveyor acted as Head of the Rescue Service in most cases, overseeing the organization and administration of the service. In January 1943, a year after London, the stretcher parties were reformed into light rescue parties and women members were transferred to other Civil Defence services. Rescues could last for days, continuing throughout bombing and air raid alerts. Rescue workers were the first Civil Defence unit to be issued with uniforms, the first issue being blue overalls. Helmets were worn when working, but flat caps or trilby hats were worn at other times. Women's Voluntary Service In June 1938 the Women's Voluntary Services for ARP, was formed to provide extra bodies for ARP work.

These women took on all roles and in February 1939 the name was changed to Women's Voluntary Services for Civil Defence. They worked in every imaginable job; salvage, medical support, staffing public kitchens, shelters, food drives and also included a Housewifeï¿½s Section. Those who were committed with children or other work and were too busy to give regular time to the WVS or Civil Defence work, worked for the WVS when they had spare time. The Housewifeï¿½s Section was formed in 1938, and early in 1942 had evolved into the National Housewifeï¿½s Section of the WVS. It was common practice for Housewifeï¿½s Section members to be trained as Fire Guards, as well as having first aid and anti-gas training. Civilian and Civil Defence casualties, due to enemy action as reported to 31st July 1945. Total Civilian Home Sweet Home Front - THE HOME GUARD Who do you think you are kidding Mister Hitler?

The Story of the Home Guard Most of us have, at some time or other, enjoyed the BBC television series "Dad's Army", with its somewhat light hearted look at the Second World War's Home Guard. With its memorable signature tune " Who do you think you are kidding Mr Hitler?ï¿½ it's usually among the first imagery evoked when thinking of the Home Guard. However, despite this portrayal, in its time the Home Guard represented a formidable force of willing volunteers ready to give up their lives in protection of their country. Indeed, should Hitler's Germany succeed with its invasion plans, the Home Guard would be ready and waiting. So how did it all begin and how did the Home Guard hope to protect Britain from a seemingly unstoppable Germany? PICTURE: Churchill acting tough and holding the line! INVASION FEARS AND THE LDV It was with considerable haste during the spring of 1940, that Britain began to prepare itself for a potential German invasion. With the government all too aware of how real this threat was becoming and how it was affecting Britain's morale, it began to think up ways of how the country could be helped should the unthinkable ever happen.

As a direct result of one of the darkest days of World War Two (on the 14th May 1940), where Germany had poured into France practically unchallenged, the war minister Anthony Eden gave a now historic radio broadcast to the nation. In it, he warned of the threat of invasion by means of German parachute regiments and how this awful scenario would need an established fighting force already in place to see off these unwanted visitors. He urged all male civilians aged 17-65* who had (for whatever reason) not been drafted into the services, to put themselves forward for the sake of their country and help to form a new fighting force called ï¿½The Local Defence Volunteersï¿½ or LDV for short, or (as some people later joked), ï¿½Look, Duck and Vanishï¿½! PICTURE: A satirical view of how some people felt the 'old boys' of the LDV would operate! Cartoonist: Nicolas Bentley. * Itï¿½s worth noting that this age band was not always strictly adhered to. The oldest member of the Home Guard (as the LDV was to later become known) was apparently well into his eighties!

Eden had made clear in his broadcast that the passing of a medical examination wouldn't be necessary and that providing you were male, ï¿½capable of free movementï¿½ and of the right age, all one needed to do was enrol at their local police station. It's true to say that if Eden was ever in any doubt about the impetus his broadcast had had on the general public, his fears were soon to be allayed. For by the end of the following day some 250,000 men had volunteered, with these volunteers coming from all walks of life including mining, factory working, public transport and farming to note but a few. Then even more staggering, by the end of the month a total of 750,000 men had come forward. Some problems did exist initially with many police stations soon running out of the enrolment forms. However, despite this small inconvenience it was good to see that Britain shared in the governments view that it had best guard itself in some manner and 'better be safe than sorry'! LDV UNIFORM AND ARMS PICTURE: A Comic view of the LDV uniform (or lack of it)! Cartoonist: Leslie Baker.

The early LDV uniforms were scarce, but those available consisted quite simply of a denim battledress and armband proudly displaying the LDV initials. Willing volunteers of the Womenï¿½s Voluntary Service (WVS) were among those who made these LDV armbands. A CHANGE OF NAME In a moment of inspiration, Winston Churchill renamed the LDV, the Home Guard, although later it became affectionately known quite simply as ï¿½Dadï¿½s Armyï¿½. Considering the LDV had only been in operation for a month and a half at the time of this announcement, it came as a surprise to most. However, despite this, the role of the Home Guard principally remained the same. Because the newly named Home Guard still lacked sufficient numbers of weapons, its high-spirited members often had to improvise. While on patrol they would take with them items such as pikes, truncheons, pick axes, broom handles and even golf clubs! It was reported that in at least one Home Guard unit, the guards took with them on patrol duty packets of pepper which would, if required, be thrown into the eyes of invaders and thus interfere with their vision!

The Home Guard also made its own fully functional weapons from pieces of scrap and litter. For example, Molotov cocktail anti-tank grenades were made from used beer and mineral water bottles and old pieces of cast iron drainpipes became 13-inch mortars! Quite ingenious don't you think? As much as we can look back on this situation of improvisation with amusement now, it was of a real concern to Churchill who believed that the lack of equipment could deter volunteers from coming forward. Uniforms were also limited and all volunteers had to begin with were a simple forage cap and ï¿½HGï¿½ stamped armband. Gladly though, this deficiency in arms didnï¿½t last for too long. Thanks to the United States, old World War One rifles and revolvers/ammunition were provided for use by the Home Guard. A consignment of 500,000 .300 rifles that arrived in the country in July 1941, was just one such example of Americaï¿½s generosity. Proper uniforms eventually became widely available too and by the winter of 1940, all Home Guard volunteers had been kitted out with standard issue army uniforms.

THE DAD'S ARMY ROLE Being a Home Guard volunteer was far from easy. All but a few members would work all day in their full time jobs and then (later that evening) take up their Home Guard duties. It was also extremely dangerous too with some 1206 members killed whilst serving on duty and 557 seriously wounded. c. Clearing up of debris following air raid attacks d. Searching through of rubble for trapped civilians following air raid attacks e. Offering (if required) of fighting assistance to the army - There was even a Home Guard section of ï¿½Skating Boysï¿½ who could deliver this help speedily by ï¿½roller-skatingï¿½ their way to the place they were called! f. Construction of concrete pill boxes g. Erecting of defence lines including the laying of anti-tank obstacles, barbed wire barriers along beaches and farming implements acting as road block check points h. Placement of obstacles in fields to prevent enemy aircraft from landing PICTURE: The Home Guard practising their tactics in an organised exercise. i.

Practising of guerrilla tactics/formations - The Home Guard created special secret auxiliary units so that if invasion did happen, they would (in the words of Churchill) ï¿½fight every street of London and suburbs and devour an invading armyï¿½ j. Removal of or blacking out of signposts k. Improvement of weapons skills by hours of target practice - Believe it or not, but a German bomber was actually shot down by the rifle fire of the Home Guard after it was sighted flying over a London district! l. Guarding of Buckingham Palace - The Royal Family* had its own Home Guard Company which formed part of the 1st County of London (Westminster) Battalion. This particular honour befell the Home Guard in its third year * King George VI later became Colonel in Chief of the Home Guard AND m. Bomb Disposal Of course, while recruits enthusiastically carried out their duties, they would always be listening out for the ring of church bells - the pre-arranged signal announcing the start of Germany's invasion. All of these responsibilities helped to release the regular army to do other equally important tasks.

It also helped to boost the morale of troops serving overseas, for they knew a very able force back ï¿½homeï¿½ was looking after their families. ONE IN THE EYE FOR HITLER Despite Hitler and the other fascist armies often sneering at the Home Guard, Hitler (in particular) was all too aware of the growing strength of British Civil Defence. HOME GUARD 'CALL-UP' Under the National Service (Number 2) Act of December 1941, male civilians found that they could be ordered to join the Home Guard and attend up to 48 hours training a month. This 'call-up' was quite a surprise especially considering that the numbers of volunteers never fell below one million! THE HOME GUARD GROWS IN STRENGTH To mark the first anniversary of the Home Guard, a parade was held at Buckingham Palace on the 20th May 1941. With its volunteers totalling 1.5 Million at this point in time, the Home Guard was clearly going from strength to strength. In one of Churchill's many speeches, he said of the Home Guard; "1940.

If the enemy had descended suddenly in large numbers from the sky in different parts of the country, they would have found only little clusters of men mostly armed with shotguns, gathered around our search light positions. But now, whenever he comes, if he comes, he will find wherever he should place his foot, that he will be immediately attacked by resolute, determined men who have a perfectly clear intention and resolve to namely put him to death!" ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END PICTURE: The Home Guard Stand-Down Parade in London. This growing of strength was how it was over the next three years until in late 1944, the Home Guard were finally disbanded. With the Battle of Britain long won and invasion looking less and less likely, everybody was now preparing for victory and not invasion. And after 'Operation Overlord', a real feeling of this victory being within Britain's grasp was shared. Even when Hitler unleashed onto the country his V1 and V2 terror weapons , resulting in thousands of civilian deaths, Britain's earlier belief in a German invasion was now seen as unrealistic.

So on the 3rd December 1944, with a stand down parade of 7000 men in London, the Home Guard finally bowed out. THANK YOU The country had always been both proud and grateful for its 'Dad's Army'. King George VI expressed the nations thoughts when he said "You have earned in full measure your country's gratitude". PICTURE: One example of the many letters that King George VI sent to all of the brave Home Guard volunteers by way of a 'Thank You'. World War Two 1940 - History Learning Site World War Two 1940 Citation: C N Trueman "World War Two 1940" historylearningsite.co.uk. The History Learning Site, 20 Apr 2015. 16 Aug 2016. 1940 January 5th: Hoare-Belisha dismissed as Minister of War. January 8th: food rationing began in the UK (butter, bacon and sugar) February 1st: Major Soviet offensive against Finland starts. February 14th: Britain announced that merchant ships in the North Sea would be armed.

February 15th: Nazi Germany announced that all UK merchant ships in the North Sea would be classed as warships. February 17th: The UK government made plans to evacuate 400,000 children to rural areas. March 13th: Treaty of Moscow ended the Winter War. March 20th: Daladier was overthrown as head of the French government and replaced by Reynaud. April 8th: The Royal Navy started laying mines in Norwegian waters. April 9th: Nazi Germany invaded Denmark and Norway thus ending the Phoney War. May 10th: Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands, Luxemburg and Belgium. Churchill replaced Chamberlain as UK Prime Minister. May 11th: Churchill gave Bomber Command permission to bomb Berlin. May 13th: France was attacked at Sedan. May 14th: The Luftwaffe attacked Rotterdam and inflicted 30,000 casualties. The UK government made its first appeal for Local Defence Volunteers – later the Home Guard. May 15th: The RAF attacked the Ruhr. The first major tank versus tank battle of World War Two occurred at Philippeville.

German tanks advanced 37 miles into France. The Netherlands surrendered. May 18th: The major port of Antwerp surrendered. May 20th: German tanks reached Abbeville and cut off Allied forces in the north of France. May 21st: Allied forces launched a counter-offensive at Arras. May 24th: Hitler ordered a halt to the advance of German armour. May 26th: Allied forces were trapped at Dunkirk and Operation Dynamo started. June 4th: The evacuation from Dunkirk ended. June 5th: Germany launched a full-scale attack against French forces at the Somme. June 7th: German forces advanced 37 miles into France spearheaded by Rommel’s force. June 10th: Mussolini declared war on France. June 13th: French troops leave Paris. June 14th: German troops entered Paris. June 16th: Raynaud’s cabinet, in Bordeaux, was ousted by Pétain. June 17th: Pétain broadcasted to the French people urging them to stop fighting. He also asked the Germans for the terms of an armistice.

June 18th: The RAF attacked Hamburg and Bremen. June 20th: Italy launched an offensive on the Alpine front. June 21st: A delegation from France met Hitler at Rethonde. June 22nd: France surrendered and was effectively split in two. The north was governed by the Germans and the south became known as Vichy France under the control of Pétain. June 24th: France signed an armistice with Italy. July 16th: Hitler issued his plans for Operation Sealion – the invasion of the UK. It was officially known as ‘Directive 16, Preparations for the Landing Operation against England’. August 1st: Hitler ordered the destruction of the Royal Air Force as a precursor to the German invasion. August 5th: The Battle of Britain began. August 13th: ‘Eagle Day’ – the German Luftwaffe launched 1,485 sorties against Britain. The Luftwaffe lost 45 planes and the RAF 13. August 15th: Germany launched the most intense attack on Great Britain – 1,790 sorties.

The Luftwaffe lost 75 planes and the RAF 34. The Greek cruiser “Helle” was torpedoed and sunk – the Italians were strongly suspected of doing this. August 20th: Italy announced the total blockade of all Britain’s Mediterranean and African territories. August 24th Central London was attacked for the first time by the Luftwaffe August 25th: The RAF launched its first attack on Berlin. September 3rd: Lend-Lease was signed. September 7th: The Blitz on London started with an attack by 300 German bombers supported by 600 fighters. September 13th: Italy invaded Egypt. September 15th: The RAF claimed to have shot down 183 German planes during the day – an exaggerated claim. September 17th: Hitler announced that Operation Sealion was to be postponed “until further notice”. September 28th: The Battle of Britain ended. October 12th: Operation Sealion was formally cancelled as Hitler concentrated his attention towards the USSR. October 28th: Italy attacked Greece. November 11th: The Royal Navy attacked the Italian fleet at Taranto and destroyed 3 battleships.

November 14th: Coventry suffered extensive damage during a bombing raid. Rye’s Military History | Rye Castle Museum Rye’s Military History Rye: Defender of the Southeast Coast Rye has been involved in the defence of the coast and English Channel throughout its history. This has generally been in response to a particular event or crisis and it usually involved naval activities and ferrying soldiers to various theatres of war. The town began to be seriously defended from the C12th onwards. The tower now known as the Ypres Tower was built in the mid C13th. It was at this time that the English crown and the dukedom of Normandyâwhich had been one and the sameâbegan to separate. 16th century In 1542 Camber Castle began to be built by order of Henry VIII. It had already been arranged that it would be armed with the necessary artillery and a captain. Later, between 1557 and 1559, Rye bought guns and overhauled the townâs ordnance.

In 1588 a Watch was appointed in Rye in order to forestall the Armada and again the town was well stocked with munitions. In 1657 foot soldiers were quartered in Rye. They were men of Colonel Robert Gibbons Regiment. Wars with France August 1779 saw the creation of a local armed force in response to the wars with France and Spain, and a member of the Lamb family received a commission and money from the Council to raise company for Rye. The troops were billeted firstly at the Strand and later in a camp at the top of Rye Hill, where the Memorial Care Centre now stands. The picture is a copy of a 1779 pen and ink sketch of the camp which housed Commander General Stopesâ 13th Regiment. This company was disbanded in 1783. With the beginning of the Revolutionary Wars with France in October 1794, William Pitt, as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, decided to strengthen the defenses along this coast.

This included creating; the Cinque Ports Fencible Cavalry, which lasted until 1814; Ryeâs First Volunteer Infantry Company 1794 â 1802; and the Troop of Gentlemen and Yeomanry Corps. The first phase of the wars with France ended with the Peace of Amiens in 1802. But the war with France started again in May 1803 and the era of the Napoleonic Wars began. By now William Pitt (the Younger) had resigned as Prime Minister but was still the Lord Warden. He raised three Infantry Battalions, Rye beingÂ in the Third Battalion and forming the first, second and third of its ten companies. The Third Battalion Cinque Ports Volunteer Corps was re-formed in 1803 and lasted until 1806. A Rye Battery of Artillery was also raised by Pitt in 1804 and probably lasted until 1814. The Third Battalion Cinque Ports Volunteers did not like being disbanded in 1806 and within three months re-formed themselves and lasted until 1808.

There were two barracks on Rye Hill and two batteries, one in the Gungarden (South East Battery ) and one on West Cliff or Green ( South West Battery ). Amongst the Regiments stationed at Rye were the 43rd Regiment of Foot and the East Kent Militia. The Military Canal was constructed at this time, linking Pett Level and Hythe, and the Martello Towers built along the coast.Â (See the separate posts on these topics.) Defenses in Victorian Times In 1859 there was another scare , this time from Napoleon III, although there was no real substance to it. A Volunteer Rye Corps was formed in May 1859 to be called the Rye District Company. This became a joint company with Tenterden in December 1859, but was disbanded in 1860. In the following year the government reorganised the 35th (Cinque Ports) Regiment of Rifle Volunteers into two battalions and the Rye subdivision became the Third Hastings Company in the First Cinque Ports Administrative Battalion. This later became the Ninth Rifles and lasted until 1876.

The Fourth Cinque Ports (Hastings & Rye ) Volunteer Artillery were formed in 1861. They calledÂ themselves the Rye Marine Cinque Ports Volunteer Artillery and lasted until 1877, yet they continued to meet in Hastings with only two Rye members until 1891. In 1885 E Company First Cinque Ports Rifle Volunteers ( Brookfieldâs Greys ) was commissioned and some of these men served in the Boer War ( 1899 â 1902 ). In 1909 the existing companies were re-organised as the Territorials and served in the First World War. World War I In 1901 the Sussex Imperial Yeomanry was formed and a Troop was raised in Rye and district. It maintained very close connections with Rye until 1904 and some men saw service in the First World War. It then became the Surrey Yeomanry and was converted to the Field Artillery and served in the Second World War. In early 1911 the Veteran Reserve was created, later to be known as the National Reserve.

A Rye Company was established and forty men served in the First World War. The drawing showsÂ a Drill Hall and Armoury whichÂ opened near the Windmill iin 1912. When war broke out in 1914, 300 had volunteered out of a population of 4,000; conscription was introduced in 1916. Â The upper floor of the Monastery was turned into a hospital in 1915. On April 17th 1917, three bombs were dropped from a Zeppelin but little damage was done.Â The Rye War Memorial records 144 names of Ryers who died in this war. World War II In 1940, during the Second World War, a Local Defence Volunteers was formed and it lasted unitl 1945. It was part of the 22nd Sussex Home Guard. Pill boxes, tank traps, and artillery batteries were set up around Rye. During the war 88 bombs and 200 incendiaries were dropped. Many buildings were destroyed and enemy action drastically changed the face of Rye, especially around the Ypres Tower and the Strand.

You will find related articles under Invasion Coast and Maritime History. First posted in Rye Town History on 10th May 2009 Last updated: 29th November 2012

Question: During World War 2, what did the Local Defence Volunteers later became known as?
Answer: The Home Guard